Downstream Decisions: Is Ohio’s Water Future at Risk?
The Columbus Metropolitan Club
Release Date: 10/15/2025
Cybersecurity in the Age of AI
The Columbus Metropolitan Club
Artificial intelligence is transforming cybersecurity at unprecedented speed. From state government to public transit to global business, leaders are confronting new risks while deploying new tools to defend critical systems. This forum examines how AI is changing cyber threats, what organizations can do to stay ahead, and why cybersecurity has become a leadership issue for every sector in Central Ohio. Featuring: Kirk Herath, Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor to Governor Mike DeWine and Chair, CyberOhio Sophia Mohr, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer, COTA Michael Wyatt, Global Identity...
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Haitian Refugees and the Future of Immigration in Central Ohio
The Columbus Metropolitan Club
Tucked into neighborhoods across Central Ohio are thousands of Haitian refugees and their families who’ve built lives, businesses, and communities—many under a federal designation called Temporary Protected Status (TPS). With that protection set to expire on February 3, their futures hang in the balance. This conversation dives into the shifting terrain of U.S. immigration policy and how it’s playing out in real time across Central Ohio. We unpack the legal pathways available to immigrants and refugees, the challenges of navigating a system marked by long backlogs and limited resources,...
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Black Men in Central Ohio: Realities, Resilience, and the Road Ahead
The Columbus Metropolitan Club
What does it mean to be a Black man in Central Ohio in 2026? In Central Ohio, Black men face a unique and often underexamined set of challenges — and opportunities — shaped by generations of systemic inequities and the evolving dynamics of a rapidly growing region. Black men continue to be disproportionately affected by disparities in health, education, income, and incarceration. We explore the realities of navigating mental health stigma, economic exclusion, and more — while spotlighting the resilience, innovation, and leadership that define the community. Featuring: Jason Jenkins,...
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Annual Blue Chip Economic Forecast
The Columbus Metropolitan Club
What will power Central Ohio’s economy in 2026—and what’s keeping business leaders up at night? With changing tariffs, reduced immigration, and transformative tech like AI reshaping industries, the economic road ahead is anything but clear. Yet Central Ohio continues to outperform much of the Midwest—thanks to population growth, public investment, and a rapidly diversifying economy. What trends will define the year ahead for our region’s employers, workers, and entrepreneurs? And what are the risks no one’s talking about yet? Featuring the release of the 2026 Regionomics Columbus...
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Annual State of Downtown: Building a Safer, Stronger Downtown
The Columbus Metropolitan Club
Downtown Columbus is changing rapidly, and local leaders are working to build a safer, more vibrant, and more connected urban core. We bring together experts from public safety, urban development, and community strategy to explore what it will take to strengthen the heart of the city. From new safety initiatives to long-term planning and partnership models, the conversation highlights how a thriving downtown Columbus drives Central Ohio's regional success. Featuring: Greg Davies, CEO, Downtown Columbus, Inc. Robin Davis, Executive Director, Safer Downtown Smith Weir, Deputy Chief of the...
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Urban Power: How Cities Are Driving Ohio’s Growth
The Columbus Metropolitan Club
In a rare joint appearance, the mayors of Columbus, Findlay, Lima, and Toledo—Andrew J. Ginther, Christina Muryn, Sharetta Smith, and Wade Kapszukiewicz—take the stage for a powerful conversation on the future of urban leadership in Ohio. Together, these four leaders represent more than a million Ohioans—nearly 10% of the state’s population. From economic growth and urban development to transit, public safety, and civic engagement, they share strategies for building stronger, more connected, and more resilient cities. Featuring: Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus Christina...
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Creative Capital: How the Arts Power Community Infrastructure
The Columbus Metropolitan Club
The arts are more than inspiration—they’re critical infrastructure. Across Central Ohio, cultural organizations are using shared data and collaborative evaluation to show how the arts drive workforce readiness, economic development, public health, and community well-being. This forum spotlights the Central Ohio Arts Impact Initiative and a growing movement to position the arts as essential to the region’s social and economic infrastructure. This week, we hear from arts leaders, data experts, and civic partners on how creative work is delivering measurable outcomes that align with Central...
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Why Children’s Mental Health Is a Workforce Issue
The Columbus Metropolitan Club
Children’s mental health isn’t just a family issue—it’s a workplace issue. When kids struggle, parents and caregivers face missed work and mounting stress, creating ripple effects across their lives. This week we explore the link between children’s mental health and workplace performance, and the roles Central Ohio employers, healthcare leaders, and advocates are playing in breaking the cycle of stress for families. Featuring: Anna Ankenbauer, Senior Director, Global Giving, Engagement, Learning & Development, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Nina Day, Community Mental Health...
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The State of Small Business
The Columbus Metropolitan Club
Small businesses are the backbone of Central Ohio’s economy—creating jobs, fueling innovation, and shaping the future of our communities. Despite inflation, labor shortages, and tariffs, many small business owners report feeling optimistic about the future. This week we explore why. Featuring: Stuart Hoffman, Senior Economic Advisor, PNC Financial Services Group Tim Kehoe, Director, Economic and Community Development Institute's Veterans Business Outreach Center of Ohio Ariana Ulloa-Olavarrieta, Small Business Coordinator, City of Columbus Walter Eguez, Founder, Tortilla Street Food ...
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Amped Up: Columbus Wants Its Music Moment
The Columbus Metropolitan Club
Columbus has rhythm, talent, and venues—but can it build a music industry that rivals Nashville, Austin, or Chicago? We explore Columbus' $1.3 BILLION local music economy and what it'll take to elevate it to national prominence. From local legends to industry insiders, we stagedive into strategy, investment, and how the city can turn homegrown talent into household names. Featuring: Bruce Garfield, Executive Director, Music Means Business Inc. Amy Holihan, Deputy Director, Music Columbus Natalie Jackson, Co-Founder, Natalie’s Grandview Rashad Thomas, CEO, Elev8tor Music The...
info_outlineOhio’s water is one of its most valuable resources—critical for the state’s health, environment, and economy.
From reducing toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie to improving aging sewer and pipe systems and addressing polluted runoff, the stakes are immense. H2Ohio—a bipartisan clean water initiative launched in 2019—has made clear progress through collaboration with farmers, conservationists, and local governments.
But a budget reduction this year to the initiative of nearly 40% could slow or scale back some of these projects, prompting discussion among policymakers, environmental groups, and community leaders about the best path forward.
What’s at stake isn’t just clean water—it’s Ohio’s health, environment, and long-term economic future.
Featuring:
Dontavius Jarrells, Representative, 1st District, Ohio State House of Representatives
Paula Powell, Senior Vice President, Research and Development, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
Adam Sharp, Executive Vice President, The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
Bill Stanley, State Director, The Nature Conservancy in Ohio
The host is Carol Kauffman, CEO, The Ohio Environmental Council
This forum was sponsored by Burgess & Niple, Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, The Alliance for the Great Lakes, The Green Funds of The Columbus Foundation, The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, The Nature Conservancy, and The Ohio Environmental Council.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation.
CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
Want to keep learning about this topic? Check out "The Last Drop: Solving the World’s Water Crisis" by Tim Smedley, recommended by our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library.